Cable supported propelling device



May 26, 1953 P. N. TRAVIS ET AL CABLE suPPoRTED PROPELLING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 4, 1950 FIG-I Cttorneg A .saMy wu/ aw .H6 N. A m Wray 2 O w. I ..9 6 m M HZSOW. 4 F 5 3 O SO .I 7 2 5 24 I 9 5 52 3G9- 9 w wm4 u 7M6B I 9 9.,. T 1 2O I .9.- 9 5 l I O :en 34. 4 n ,1 w L May 26, 1953 P. N. TRAVIS ETAL. V639,676

CABLE SUPPORTED PROPEELING DEVICE Filed Dec. 4, 195o z sheets-sheet 2,"

43 155-45 FIG-5 Paul lV. Travis 3mm Gene A. Garske and 4dow Patented May 26', 1953 f V CABLE sUPPoRTED PRQPELLING DEVICE Paul N. Travis and Gene A. Garske,

Y Spokane, Wash.

2 Claims.

This invention'is a cable supported propelling 'deviceiand more particularly a device supported upon Ia" cable and adapted to propel a suspended water sprinkler back and forth from end to end of.` saidsupporting cable.

'j One "j objectljof the invention lies in the provision of Achain `driven pulleys adapted to roll upon a supporting cable and journaled on a frame from which a water sprinkler may be sus- D-Hdedl 3 j Another object of the invention lies in the provision of releasable pressure `rollers positioned below'the driven pulleys which press the supporting cable into the grooved pulleys and prevent slipping of the pulleys on the cable.

"f Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a powered chain sprocket adapted with a` relatively large toothed wheel which is rotated by .an oscillating or rocking crank arm having a reversible drive dog pivotally carried on its free end.

lj'Anotheif object of the invention lies in the provision of a Water pressure operated reciprocating motor which is adapted to rock the arm and fthusimpart driving power to the powered chain` :sprocketfthrough the dog and toothed wheel. 'y

, `Otherobject's and advantages of the invention will be apparent'-during the course of the following description.

'In the' accompanying drawings, forming a part of this' specification, and in which like numerals are employed to'designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure l is a front elevation of a cable supported propellingd'evice embodying our invention,

,Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same,

. Figure v3 'is'atransverse fragmentary section through th'device, taken on line 3--3 of Figure l, 'Figure '4 is a transverse cross section through the reciprocating motor and the pivot shaft of 'therocking arm, and,V

Figure 5,; is a' longitudinal cross section through '.meend."'of the reciprocating motor and its centralyalv'efarrangement and valve operating mecha'r'isirit[yY To .carryfout our invention we have provided la frameV Spfwhichis triangular in front elevation and"comprises a' horizontal cross bar 'I at its top, nwardlyconverging side bars 8-8 which Ipeintsiibjstajnuauy midway the length e framaand merge'into a single vertical secwardly from the lower" end of the section 9, and

.A v Application December 4, 1950, Serial No. 199,030

(Cl. 10S- 153) form the motor support. The frame 6 is formed preferably of a light weight metal not materially affected by water, such as aluminum, and the preferred embodiment shown indicates the frame formed by casting. To strengthen the bars I and 8 we have formed rearwardly extending ribs 'I' and 8 on the rear face thereof and substantially midway their width. A reinforcing rib 9 is also provided on the rear face of the section 9.

Located at the angular upper corners of the frame 6, we have provided bosses II-II and at the junction of the two side bars 8--8 another boss I2 is provided. Bosses II receive and mount forwardly extending shafts I3--I3 and their forward ends are supported in a bar I4 which is arcuate when viewed in front elevation as shown in Fig. l, but when viewed in plan it will be seen that it is in spaced parallel relation with respect to the top bar 1. The arcu-ate bar I4 is supported midway its length by means of a bracket I5 which extends forwardly from bar 'I and is formed with a transversely central vertical aperture I6. The top edge face I'I of the bracket is formed with a depression I8 adjacent its base, and its bottom edge face I9 angles upwardly toward its forward end.

Journaled on shafts I3, we have provided sprockets 20-20 and drive pulleys 2I-2I. Sleeves 22 are disposed between their respective sprocket 20 and drive pulley 2l and are secured thereto thus causing the sprocket and pulley so united to turn as a unit.

-A cable C has its ends anchored to spaced supports (not shown) and is stretched taut in spaced relation above'the garden or orchard to be Watered, and our propelling device is mounted thereon by passing the cable C under the drive pulleys 2l. It can be seen that by rotating sprockets 20, rotary motion will be imparted to drive pulleys 2l and they frictionally engage the cable and drive the device thereon. To increase the frictional grip between the drive pulleys and the cable, we have provided pressure wheels 23 which are journaled in the bifurcated ends 24 of a longitudinally tiltable arm 25. To allow for tilting movement of the arm 25, we have provided a transversely extending horizontal pivot pin 26 formed with a head 21 and a threaded end 28 opposed thereto. The arm 25 is provided with a transverse bore 29 substantially midway its length and is adapted to be received in a U- shaped clevis 30 carried by a vertically tiltable arm 3| pvoted at 32 to a lip 33 carried by a tongue 34 positioned midway the length and depending from bar 1.

To releasably secure the arm 3| with pressure wheels 23 engaging cable C we have provided a vertical rod 35 with a hand knob 3B at its upper end and a threaded portion 31 at its lower end. Threaded on the lower end we have provided a transversely positioned cylindrical nut 38 which is disposed beneath arm 3| and the rod 35 rotatably passes through van opening extending vertically through said arm.

Boss l2 is provided with a stub shaft 39 which is securely mounted therein, and the shaft is provided with a pivotally mounted powered sprocket 4U adjacent the frame 6 and in vertical 4alignment with sprockets 20-20- A toothed wheel 4I is secured on shaft 39 and operably secured to power sprocket 4U, and the purpose of the wheel is to receive rotary motion from a Water pressure operated motor and transmit this inotion to the power sprocket 40 which in turn transmits the motion to sprockets 2G through endless chain l4.11. The chain 42 is trained about the three sprockets 20--20 and 4D thus ,causing all sprockets to turn as one when power is applied to the toothed wheel 4 I.

To apply power to the toothed wheel, we have provided ,a fluid pressure operated motor Which comprises axial aligned Cylinders 43-43 yand each cylinder is provided with a reciprocating piston #1 -44. The inner yends of `the cylinders -are threaded into a central section 45 which contains the valves vnecessary ,to proper functioning of the motor. Fluid under pressure is supplied .to .the motor preferably through -a hose (not shown) connected to a hollow depending threaded boss 46. The fluid is thus directed into the `central section 245, and a longitudinally recipro- .cable valve 41 is positioned to admit uid under pressure :to one or the other cylinder 43.

Figure shows the -uid being directed into the .cylinder positioned tothe right. Each piston. is provided with a `tubular piston rod 48 which is secured at its inner end tothe piston 44 and has its :body reciprocably mounted through the -cyl- Ainder :cap 14.9 .and terminates externally vof the -cylinder4- The end of the piston rod 48 is provided with a collar 50 secured thereon and the icollar -has diametrically opposed horizontal arms I .extendi-ng .therefrom and adapted to receive set .screws-52 :their ends to secure spaced parlallel .connecting bars 53 which extend longitudiinally :of the cylinders 43-43 diametrically opposed thereto and connectthe outer ends of tubular-.piston rods .48.

-A longitudinally shiftable shaft 54 is .reciproca- .bly mounted `in Aeach tubular piston rod 48 and lextends beyondthe ends thereof. A valve oper- .ating plate 55 is mounted on the inner end of shaft `54 and a helical expansion spring 56 is positioned between the plate 55 and its respective .piston44. Theopposite end of each shaft-Mex- .tends from the .end of its piston rod 48 and is ;provided .with a.collar 51 secured thereon by set screw58. `Spaced depending ears 59 are provided on collars 51 and spring raised arms 80 are pivotally mounted therebetween by a pin 6| which passes vthrough 4ea-rs 59 and one end of arm .60 4transversely thereof.

The larm G isprovided with a head 62 and a .cam faceSS-on theupper side thereof. The piston rod'collar 50 is provided with a cam-64 at its lower side which cooperates with cam 63 to cause .the valve operating mechanism to function.

Central section 4,5 isprovided withan exhaust valve.65 .which inreality is two valves gangedby a connecting rod, and the purposefoftheexhaust .ends and to the .frame.. 6 .causes .the .dog lto merate as av toggle. Antanvalve 65 is to exhaust fluid from one cylinder while the other is being lled. Fluid passing from cylinders 43 through exhaust valve $5 enters a cavity 66 from which leads a. port 61 controlled by a thumb operated needle valve 68. By controlling the exhaust of fluid from the cylinders. the speed of the motor operation may be controlled. i

As iiuid under pressure .enters .png .cylinder 43 by valve 41, piston 44 is moved rearwardly land this in turn draws the opposed piston 44 forwardly by means of the connecting bars 53'."

Fluid in front 0f the forwardly drawn piston is exhausted by valve 65 and the rate of flow is adjusted by needle valve 68 to control the speed of the pistons.

When the pistons near the end of their stroke in one direction (as shown in Figure 5) the head 62 of arm 50 contacts the collar 49' of cap 4.! and shaft 54 stops, Piston 44 continues to move. compressing spring 56 and .when .can- 1.54 lstrikes cam 63, the arm is pivoteddownwardlyunt 'head V62 -diseneaees co-.11ar43e.r1d.sprine5 6 capace .the shaft and plate to snap fplwardlly striking valves 41 and 65 and reversing .their-@pendenti closed ports to .theopposite cylinders. action reverses the movement o,f thefpfons and they continue to reciprocate as long astluid pressure is supplied. .f

The front connecting bar 53 is providedtivith an aperture midway its ,length and a bplftv 69 passes through an eye 1 0 of `arocler arm 1,1.;ang the aperture where -it is vloosely scuredby'npt 12. As connecting .bar 5.3; reprosete.s. .roster arm 1| is rocked and its -fendpppsel to .thel eye 13 is secured `to-one .en d of datransverse shaft by means of a nut .1.4 so .thatpscillatingxnihtion is imparted to theshaftasr the pistonsrecipro.- cate. The shaft 13 .isrotatably millmedlhuh a transverse sleeve V1 5 formedintegral.,y/itli.and positioned above the central section 4'5. V' An oscillatingprank arm ,1611s ,s ecuredtp'the end of shaft .13 opposedto-.roqker arm,

of crank arm 16 and Vthis dog comprises wp .ane'ularly vrelateddoe teeth ,18 .and iliendun operating tooth 8 0. A contractipgspringfd( ,is secured to the operating toothU-at goneofits ,at-.the ether; eed thus like ,lid

guiar finger 82 issecured,tothe..o1eratinsft0oth and extends upwardly with its free end wisvposed adjacent ithe ,cable yso lthat @stop ,fg'not shown) secured onfand extendingdnspaed allel relation to the cable may be placed tof nl.. tact the ,finger .and cause ,the dce to .reverse and thus reverse the direction pt powenapplication to the toothedwheel .4 |.by.,1.QWI1gtih 119 into operating engagernentthereivith ,vhile tooth .is is raised. .'Whsn....=ranl term diesellates in a direction opposed tothe dog' ,1 11 or 13 which for thetme being, is. inqperatinguen easement .withthe whee1.. t .ratchets p. k` aereas 4the teeth of toothed wheel 4 l Y, and loc ...behind a selected tooth at the end of its stroke.

The .wheel u is thus ...rulesetsit@1yzotebefi1 in one direction and-rotary .motion .is imparted to pulleys 2 I and thepmnellinadeviais f...e`.d

along the cable.

afield ivhichisto be watered.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A propelling device comprising a. frame. drive pulleys journalled on the frame and adapted to frictionally engage a monorail and having power transmission means associated therewith, a toothed` wheel journalled on said frame and adapted to actuate said power transmission means, a crank arm oscillated by a fluid pressure motor carried by said frame, a spring held reversible drive dog pivotally mounted on the free end of said crank arm and disposed to rotate said toothed wheel, and means adapted to pivot said dog whereby the direction of rotation of said toothed wheel may be reversed.

2. A propelling device comprising a frame, drive pulleys journaled on the frame and adapted to frictionally engage a monoral, means for driving said pulleys, a vertically tiltable arm References Cited in the le 0f this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 671,505 Winsor Apr. 9, 1901 1,801,001 Henderson Apr. 14, 1931 

